LANSING, Mich. – Today Governor-elect Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement in response to legislative attempts to undermine executive authority in Michigan:

“As Governor-elect I am committed to leading and working across the aisle with anyone who wants to solve the problems now facing Michiganders. That is what the people of Michigan want and expect in their elected officials.

In the waning days of the departing Michigan Legislature, some politicians want to strip authority from our new Attorney General, Dana Nessel, our new Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, and me. Supporters of this legislation seek to bind our hands, preventing us from using tools used by our predecessors to improve the lives of the people of Michigan.

I reject this incivility and discord. We are ready to get to work on January 1 and to ensure forward progress, all parties must work together, focusing on common-ground issues so that we can get things done in a way that positively impacts the people of Michigan.

This legislation needlessly divides and won’t deliver results. It won’t clean up our water. It won’t improve literacy or fix the roads. Instead of working to undermine the very leaders Michigan residents have chosen to get this job done, let’s instead respect the voices of voters who have spoken clearly and decisively, and get back to building bridges.”